Clara: Oof.
Clara: Gus? All the chairs are stacked and I cleaned off the back counter. Do you need anything else?Gus: Nope, thanks Clara.
Clara: Okay, then I'm headed home.
Clara: See you tomorrow!Gus: G'night, Clara!!
Gus: Okay, back to dishes then.
Gus: *humming quietly to self*
Gus: *quietly humming*(door chimes jingle)
Gus: Clara?
Gus: Did you forget your keys again, Clara? I...
Gus: Oh! Hello.
Stranger: Hello. I was hoping to get a cup of coffee on my way to work.
Gus: Oh, I'm sorry. We're closed for the evening.
Stranger: But your sign still said "open"...
Gus: Oh, Clara must not have flipped the sign to "Closed" on her way out.
Stranger: Oh... I'm sorry. Well, have a good night.Gus: Wait a minute. Um...
Gus: I can probably make you a cup of coffee. I mean, Taelyn runs the machine sometimes, so it can't be THAT hard, right?Stranger: Oh, would you? Please?
Gus: Sure thing (sounds of coffee maker heating up) it won't be anything fancy, but it will be coffee. So uh.... you work late. What do you do?
Stranger: Oh, I'm in mushroom placement, for the Gnome Corps. Sometimes the night hours are a little long, but I get to plan faeiry rings, and exactly where which kind of mushroom should go after rainstorms and...
Stranger: I'm sure it must sound rather boring...
Gus: I think it sounds very interesting. Here's your coffee, I hope it's okay.
Stranger: It's wonderful. Thank you so much. What do I owe you?Gus: Nufin. Register's closed, so it's on the house. Just for you... Miss erm...
Stranger: Salome. Salome WormWood. And you?Gus: Gus. Just Gus.
Salome: Well, thank you for the coffee, Gus. I'd better get going. We've got a forward planning mushroom meeting tonight. Gotta plan for Spring. Thanks!
Gus: G'night, Salome.
Gus: Huh.
Gus: Salome, what a pretty name... *dreamy sigh*